Improvement in vehicle running-gear



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IGHABOD H. MULFORD, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.

IMPRO VEMENT IN VEHICLE RUNNING-GEAR.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 200,872, dated March 5,1878; application filed June 20, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IOHABOD H. MULFORD, of East Orange, in Essex county,and State of New Jersey, have invented Improvements in Running-Gear forCarriages, of which the following is a specification:

The object of this invention is to simplify the construction of therunninggear of vehicles, reduce the weight, and hang the body lower thanhas hitherto been accomplished; and it consists in a novel arrangementof the springs, in combination with an upper and lower turn-plate, orfifth-wheels, at the front axle, whereby the usual bolster is dispensedwith and the elevation of the body reduced, as will be hereinafter morefully described by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which-Figure 1 represents a top view of my improved running-gear. Fig. 2 is asectional elevation on the line 00 w of Fig. 1, showing the rear axleand springs; and Fig. 3is afront elevation of the fore axle, springs,and turnplates or fifth-wheels.

The same letters appearing on the several figures indicate like parts.

A A represent the springs, which are arranged in pairs, one 'on eachside of both front and rear axles B. These springs are of semiellipticform, and are supported by swinging shackles D on the bolts or bars a,which are rigidly attached to the axles, crosswise thereto,

and as near as convenient to the arms L or these shackles D may bedispensed with, and the ends of the springs curled to form scrolls 0around the bolts a, which scrolls admit, in like manner, of theextension of the spring when under pressure. The springs on each side ofthe rear axle are connected .at their midlength by an iron saddle-plateor bar, F, which, furthermore, has two lateral extensions for connectionwith the body of the vehicle. The saddle t', which connects the twosprings 'at the front axle, is of circular form, and constitutes the bedof the turn-plate or fifth-wheel, while the plate E, also of circularform, is attached by its lateral extension to the body of the vehicle,and, by a central bolt, 0, to the plate t, forms the upper portion ofsaid fifthwheel. The perch H is rigidly connected with the rear axle,and, by a circular plate, I, above and plate m below, with the frontaxle, which is fitted with segmental blocks 0 e, and, having aking-bolt, G, passing vertically through the plates I and m and axle B,constitutes a secondary fifth-wheel, vertically under the fifthwheelbefore described.

By this arrangement of springs and turnplates the bolsters ordinarilyused are dispensed with, and the body of the vehicle can be hung muchlower, while the superincumbent weight is thrown more directly on thewheels, instead of on the center of the axles and bolsters, as in theuse of elliptic springs.

In order to further reduce the weight of the running-gear, I sheath theperch H with a U- shaped casing of sheet metal, 42, covering its twosides and bottom, to protect it from fracture, even if the grain of theWood should run slightly crosswise, whereby said perch may be reducedmuch below the ordinary size and weight. The stays O, for bracing theperch in its connection with the rear axle, are, preferably, made ofiron tubes, being both stiffer and lighter than bar-iron.

I am aware that semi-elliptic springs have been used on each side of theordinary bolsters, also one above the other but these rather increasethan decrease the elevation of the body of the vehicle. These,therefore, I do not claim; but

What is here claimed as new, and desired to be secured by LettersPatent, is

1. The combination of the springs A A and their bearings a with the axleB and turnplates E and I, the former connecting the two springs togetherand in an oscillating manner with the body, and the latter arrangedbeneath, connecting the perch with the axle, as shown and described.

2. The U-shaped sheet-metal sheathing n, in combination with the perchH, as shown and described, for the purpose set forth.

IGHABOD H. MULFORD.

Witnesses:

HORACE HARRIS, GEORGE D. DEAN.

